Apparatus for forming extrusion containers



Dec. 12, 1939. c. DAVIS APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXTRU SION CONTAINERS Filed April 2-2, 19:57 s sheets-glut l Dec. 12, 1 939. c, ms 2,183,304

APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXTRUSION CONTAINERS Filed April 22, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 2- Dec. 12, 1939. c, p ws' 2,183,304

' A APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXZIRUSION CONTAINERS Filed April 22, 1937 s Sheets-Shes a Ihcre/zzor c. DAVIS ,3 APBARATUS FOR FORMING EXTRUSIQN CONTAINERS Dec. 12, 1939.

Filed Api il 22, 1937 v e sheets-sheet 4 m fi 4.

W &J

Dec. 12, 1939. c. DAVlS-.

APPARATUS FOR FORMING EXTRUSIQN CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 22, 1937 c. DAVIS 2,183,304

APPARATUS FOR, FORMINGEXTRUSION CONTAINERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 1 2, 1939.

Filed April 22, 1937 nmi | I fla e/afar Patented Dec. 12, 1939 "UNITED [PATENT orrics' APPARATUS Fon rommvclnx'musrou commune Charles Davis, Neuilly-sur-Selne, France Application April 22, 1937, Serial No. 138,452

In Great Britain July as, 1936 1": Claims. (curse-13y The invention concerns an apparatus for carrying out a method as described inmy copending application filed on even date herewith,

Serial No. 138,453, now Patent No; 2,129,120, of

providing'an extrusion 'containermade of metal such as lead, tin or aluminum; for example, the

well known collapsible plain tubular container used ,for fluid or semi-fluid substancessuch as toothpaste, cosmetics, Ointment, paints, polishing compounds and-the like, with pleats of V- shape, and preferably of a sharply defined V- .,shape,- so that the extrusion container can be easily and-regularly collapsed axially orilongitudinally and,moreover, with such pleats which extend outwardly relatively to theplaihtube from which they are formed. i

.The apparatus according to. the invention 4 comprises an expansible and contractible multiplate mould, the. plates which have operative 2 edges'so shaped that when the mould is contracted, they co-operate to form alternate ridges and grooves of sharply-defined v shape, into i which expanded mould, the plain metal tube or container is inserted and when the mould is c'on-- treated. the tube is'compelledto conform to the internal surface thereof by internal pressure, that is, that of a fluid pressure medium, for example,

compressed air, or the substance which the container is ultimately to contain and which is forced in under pressure. The tube or container is-thus providedwith outward V -shaped pleats. It is a practically non-resilient and easily axially collansible extrusion container. Y

The apparatus includes a plunger for insertion in the" open endafthe plaintubular confainer'in the mould and this plunger, in its preferre'd form, is provided with a duct for th introduction of-the pressure medium,

The apparatusv in its preferred form further c mprises means for, facilitating and controlling the expansion and contraction of the mould,

means for opening and closing it laterally, and other devices and combinations of devices here-.

inafter referred to for ensuring accurate and rapid operation.

In the accompanying drawin v Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section through a 7 part of the mould, with an ordinary collapsible 5o tube in position, before themould is contracted axially,

Figure 2 Being a similar view, but showing the mould contracted. Figure 3 is a side elevation of a mould. Fi ure 4 being aplan of "one-of the plates, and

. a supply pipe for compressed air.

' been collapsed to extrude its contents.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic section through a part of a modified mould in the open condition 15 withatube inserted.

Figure 12 shows the mould closed, and

Figure 13 shows the mould contracted.

v Figure 14 is a side elevation of a further form of apparatus, the mould being in section on the so line XIV-XIV, Figure 17..

' Figure 15 is a side sectional elevation of the plunger and parts associated therewith,

Figure 16 being an end view corresponding thereto.

Figure 17 is an end view showing the mould and the chuck or support therefor.

Referring first to Figures 1. and 2, a tin or lead tube l as usually employed hitherto as a a collapsible container, provided with a conical 30 nozzle 2 and screw-threaded nipple 3, is inserted in a mould comprising a number of plates 4,

each presenting an internal circular edge 5 of V'-shape in cross-section. is preferably about 62.

The'tube l is inserted while the'mould is expanded, that -is, while the plates 4 are sepa- The angle of this V rated as indicated in Figure 1.'

f The lowermost'platell is shaped to conform to the nozzle 2 and has a central .hole 42 to allow the nipple V3 to protrude ,so that it can be connected to a fluid supply Pipe, for example,

The pp most plate I has a cylindrical hole ll.-

Aplunger i is inserted inthe open end of the 45, tube I. This end of'the tube may be a-fairly good fit on the plunger and the plunger may have packing rings or undue escape of air. Compressed air under light pressure is first admitted through the nipple 3 so that the inflated tube is pressed outwardly against the sharp edges 5 of the plates ga slight bulge of the tube V grooves" to prevent the occurring between each adjacent pair of edges as indicated in dotted lines, Figure 1. A 86' slight contraction in the length r the tube may occur under, these conditions. The nozzle end of the tube being held, the other end of the tube is free to allow for this contraction as-the plunger 5 takes the internal pressure.

The mould is then contracted until the plates 4' are in close contact with a resulting increase in the pressure of" the air in the tube.

The tube I then assumes the sharply defined pleated form indicated in the mould in Figure 2. The air supply pipe is then disconnected from the nipple 3 and the-pleated tube is removed substance which is intended to be used as a pressure medium and also for filling the pleated container.

The mould comprises a number of plates 4, a plate 4|, and a plate 43, each composed of three sections 45, 46 and 41, Figure 4.

The sections of each plate have interengaging parts or joints and the section is pivotally connected at its joints with the sections 46 and 41 by ferrules 48, 48. A removable rod 49 having a handle 50 (Figure 3) at its. upper end passes through all the joints between the sections 45 and 41 when the sections are in the condition shown in Figure 4. When the rod 48 is withdrawn, the sections 46 and 41 of each plate may be moved apart laterally as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4, so that the mould can be opened.

The plates 4 are mounted to slide on rods 5|;

Figures 3 and 4, which are screwed at their lower ends in a base 52 and secured by nuts 53 at the upper ends in a yoke 54which is firmly mounted on pillars 55 similarly attached to the base 52 and to the yoke 54. p

Springs 56 arranged in recesses in adjacent plates 4 tend to separate them. The spacing 01' the plates is determined by studs 51, each stud being screwed into one plate and freely sliding'in a hole in the adjacent plate and having a head 58. Recesses 59 areprovided for thereception of these heads.

When the mould plates 4 are assembled in the apparatus as shown in Figure 3, they are capable of being pressed together by a screw ill which acts on a cross-head 5| sliding on the rods 5| and transmitting pressure to a pressure plate 62 by means of distance sleeves 64 on the rods 5|.

The cross-head 6| also presses on a plunger 5 which passes through a hole in thepressure plate 62. Thepressure plate 52 has a boss 53, which engages with the uppermost mould plate 43.

The lowermost plate 4| rests on the base plate 52 which'is provided with the bushing 55 having a hole shaped to conform to the nozzle 2 and allowing the nipple 3 to protrude. When the mould is used for both filling and forming the container, the nipple is connected to means for supplying fluid or pasty substance. Such means is indicated in Figure 6.

It will be assumed that a lead or tin tube has;

been inserted in the mould while the plates 4 are separated by their springs 56, that with. the mould in the expanded condition. The nipple! of the tube I is connected to a pipe 9 which is connected to a pressure regulator 2| which is fitted with a plunger'il loaded by an adjustable weight 32 and a lever 33.

The regulator 2| is connected by the pipe 8 to a source of supply for the pressure medium, in this example diagrammaticallyillustrated by a storage cylinder l8 fitted 'with a piston l9 operated by a screw 20.

If the pressure medium is a fluid or pasty substance which is to constitute the ultimate contents of the pleated container, the plunger 5 is first inserted right down in the tin, aluminum or lead tube I so as to expel air therefrom beforethe connection is made to the supply pipe 9.

The pressure medium is then supplied by operating the screw 20 gradually. so that the tube in the mould is filled and the plunger is raised until arrested by the cross-head 5 I, the pressure of the medium being only sufficient to do this. The screw 20 is then slightly operated still further to apply a light internal pressure to the tube in the expanded mould so that the tube is pressed against the sharp V edges 5 of the mould plates 6 and a slight bulging of the tube between those edges occurs.

The screw BI! is then operated to contract the mould and cause the plunger 5 to follow the contraction. This sets up a higher pressure in the fluid'or pasty medium in the tube or container, any excess substance expelled through the small orifice of the nipple passing into the pipe 9. The regulator 2| automatically aflfords accommodation for excess substance and prevents an unduly high pressure occurring.

As the mould is contracted, the tin, lead or aluminum tube or container is pleated.

The pleats are outward pleats, that is, extend outwardly relatively to the tube and are sharply defined.

' The pressure may be relieved by operation of the screw 20 or by closing a valve III on the pipe 9 while the pipe is disconnected from the nipple of the tube or container. The mould is then opened after removal of the rod 49 and the filled pleated tube or container is removed.

The open end of the filled container is fitted with a stopper or piston 26 (Figure 8), which may be of metal or other suitable material.

The filled pleated container, shown in Figure 9, thus manufactured can be collapsed axially, as is shown in Figure 10, to extrude its contents through the nipple 3. The container will stand erect on the stopper 26. It may be placed in a protective casing although it is capable of being used without such a casing.

When compressed air is used to form the container, it is not necessary to start with the plunger 6 at the bottom of the tube as there is no need to expel air from it. The cylinder l8 diagrammatically shown in Figure 6 may be utilised as a pump or compressor to force air into the mould 'or the mould may be connected to any suitable source of compressed air. Instead of a pressure regulator as shown at ZL-a'suitable safety valve may be r employed in the compressed air line.

In place of the springs 56 inserted between the plates 4, 4| and-43, the plate 43 may be pulled up by springs, the remainder of the plates being separated and spaced apart correctly by means of the studs 5], as in the example later to be described.

- In the accompanying drawings, the thickness of the tube has been shown exaggerated for the sake of clearness, but inpractice. the ordinary tubes having a thickness of about .1 to .2 millimetre can be used.

Instead of the fiuid or semi-fluid or pasty sub- 76 shown in Figures 7 to 10.

stance being introduced through the nozzle of thetube while lnjthemould, it may be. introduced through a duct in' the plunger, the duct being connected bya flexible or telescopic connection to Y a supply pipe which may have a pressure regulator on it as in the example above described.

It will be noticed that in the example illustrated in Figures ,1 to 3, the' upper and lower mould plates 43 and 4| areso shaped that tubular ends or.

The upper end, as shown in Figures 7 and 10, is finished off with a conical nozzle 2 having a nipple 3 of usual form, but a flat, domed or other shaped nozzle and appropriate cap can be provided, the

nozzle havinground holes, slits or other shaped orifices;

A modification of the apparatus described above is illustrated by Figures 11, 12 and 13, itbeing' assumed thatthe mould plates 4 are provided with the devices shown in Figures! and 5, similar reference numerals indicating corresponding parts in the'various figures. In this modified apparatus, the plunger Ii is provided with a duct 62 through which the pressure medium, for example, compressed air, is introduced to the tube I, the nipple 3 on the nozzle 2 of which is closed by the usual cap 63 before the tube is inserted open mould,as indicated in Figure 11.

If an empty container is inserted, the mould plates 4 are closed laterally as shown in Figure- 12. Compressed air is then admitted to bulgeslightly or mark ofi the tube -I, as indicated by: dotted lines in Figure 12. The mould is then collapsed,

that is, the plates 4 are closed together as indicated in Figure 13, the flange or cross-head BI and plunger 8 being moved relatively to the stationary plate 4|, the internal pressure of the compressed air being 'maintainedso that the container or tube I is provided with sharply defined outward pleats. Before th'tube or container I is inserted in the mould, it may be dosed with the substance it is ultimately to contain, as indicated by 64, the compressed air acting on this substance during the pleating operation to maintain the internal pres sure.

The apparatus shown in Figures 14' to 17 is fitted wtih a multi-plate mould of simiiar construction to thatdescribed with reference toFig ures 4 to 6 and similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts. In the present example, however, the segments 45', 46, 41 of the plates 4 and also those of the end plates-4| and 43 are not interconnected; Each group of segments 45,- 46 and 41 is independently mounted on a rod so as to slide thereon and the segments have dovetailed portions 84sliding incorrespondingly slotted Jaws 65 of a holder or support 86 which is similar to a three-jaw chuck and is fitted in- L ternally with anylusual' scroll or geared mechjaws 65 radially, for instance, when a key is apanism common'to lathe chucks, for adjusting the plied to one of the usual operating spindles I24.

,The jaws 65 .when moved radially inwards and outwards bring the segments of'th plates 4 together and apartto close and open the mould for the insertion and removal of a'container. For rapid operation, one of the spindles] I24 is shown in Figure 14 provided with a key I25 having a toothed wheel I28 meshing with a larger toothed wheel I21, which is mounted on a shaft 69 which can be rotated byahand wheel, pedal, I v or by power, for example,'from an electric motor, pivotally connected by a pin..l02 to the forked. 1

in the.

these details notbeing shown as they are obvious toa skilled mechanic.

' cross-head 62.

The sleeve 69' slides in a cylindrical bore 18 in a mandrel II which is fixed in the chuck 86. The end of the sleeve 69 remote from the cross--' head 62 is fitted with an'annular pis'ton I2 provided with a cup leather packing 13. The piston 12 and bore 10 thus constitute a pneumatic mo-' tor or piston and cylinder device for contracting the mould. The piston 12 slides on an airtube I4 which is screwed in a valve box I5 which is screwed on the adjacent end of the mandrel II. The other end of the air tube I4 is screwed to an air tube extension 16 having holes 11 and provided with a conicalend I8 to correspond with the nozzle '2 of the metal tubular container I which is to be pleated. The extension 16 can be removed and the plunger Ii shown in Figure 14 can be replaced by a shorter plunger 6; as indicated in Figuresll to 13, when a container is to be pleated which is precharged with pasty or other contents as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig;

ures 11 to 13. Return springs 19 are secured at 88" has a port 83 which in the position of the valve shown in Figure 15 is open to a port 89 and thence to an air supply pipe 84 so that air can pass to the air tube I4 and thence to the tubular con tainer I. A spring 85 'in this position.

Another valve box 86 is mounted adjacent to the valve box I5. It has an air duct 81 leading to the cylinder Ill. -It contains a sliding sleeve valve 88 which is open at one end adjacent to the duct 81 and is.closed at the other end. When in the position shown in Figure 15, the valve 88.closes tends to hold the valve 82 -a port 90 and, therefore, prevents air from an air supply pipe 9| passing to the duct 81 and into the cylinder III. The valves 82 and 88 have stems 92 and 93, respectively, which are yoked together by a yoke 94. The two valves 82 and 88 are thus compelled to reciprocate together.- Thestern 93 is screw-threaded to receive a flanged screwthreaded collar 95 embracing the adjacent end of the yoke 94. The valve stem 93 can thus be ad- .justably connected to the yoke 94 so that the position of the valve 88 can be varied or set rela ;tively to thevalve 82 for the purpose of ensuring that the valve 82 closes the port 89 before the valve 88 opens the'port 90 after an appropriate interval of timeto allow compressed air to pass to a container inthe mould before compressed air passes to, the cylinder III to force the piston I2 forward and by means of the cross-head 82 to contract the mould.

A ratchet bar 96, whichis fixed at one end to the cross-head 62, slides in the boss 91 of the chuck 68. a A detent -98'for engagementwith the ratchet bar 98 is mounted-to slide radially in the boss 91. o It is pivotally connected at its outer end to one arm of a bell-crank 99 which is pivot-' ally mounted at 100 fixed in aboss lIlI on the chuck B8. ,The other 'arm of the bell-crank 99 is end I03 of a rod I04 slidingthrough 8. lug I05 on the bracket 81. Therod I04 has a collar I06 fixed to it and a coiled spring I0'Iabuts against the collar I05 and the guide lug I05.

When the crosshead 62 moves forward to collapse the mould, the ratchet bar 98 moves with itvand the spring I01 allows the detent 98 to slip over the teeth of the ratchet bar, but the spring I06 enables the detent 98 to engage with the teeth of 'the ratchet bar and prevent the return of the crosshead until the rod I04 is pulled down by the operator, for example, by a pedal.

In order that the return movement of the crosshead 62 may be definitely but variably determined, a stop bar I08 is provided, against the end of which the crosshead 82 abi its. The stopl'ar I08 is slidably mounted in me boss 91 and is attached to a member I09 embracing a nut II 0 which is mounted on a stationary screw III. The nut IIO has a milled head II2 by which the operator can rotate it. The screw III is mounted at one end in the bracket 81 and at the other end in a bracket II3 which is fixed to the machine bed 68. A gauge or scale bar H4 is flxed to the brackets 81 and H3. A pointer H5 is carried by the member I09 and indicates on the gauge the adjustment of the stop bar I08 and,

therefore, of the determined return position of the crosshead 62 which has to be set to suit the mould being used, it being understood that the mould is removable from the jaws 85 and can be replaced by another having a different-numher of mould'plates 4 to suit the length of container to be pleated.

The air supply pipe 9I branches off the air supply pipe 84. The pipe 84 and a vent pipe I" from the valve box I5 are connected to the casng I I8 of an operator's control valve II9 which is provided with a handle I20. 'The casing II 8 has a vent I2I. connected to the casing II8. The control valve H9 is a rotary plug valve and has a port I23.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

Assuming that the mould is expanded, the mould plates 4 being in the position indicated in Figure 11, and that a plain tubular container I has been placed on the plunger 8, the chuck 88 is then operated to close the jaws 85 and the mould, the mouldplates'4 closing together radially into the position indicated in Figures 12 and li. The parts shown in Figure 15 will be then in the position shown in that figure.

The operator then moves the handle I20 from position I to position II, so that the port I28 connects 'the main air supply pipe I22 to the air pipe 84 and compressed air passes to the valve boxes 15 and 88, and first through the ports 89.-

and 83, and air tube I4 to the inside or the con-. tainer l, slightly bulging it or' marking it on by pressing it between the spaced plates 4 (Figure 12). The pressure of air in the valve 82 forces it back against its spring 85 so that the ports 89, 83 are closed. At the same time, the valve 88 is drawn back by the yoke 94 and the port 90 is uncovered and compressed air passes through the duct 81 into the cylinder I0 and forces the piston "forward, so that the crosshead 82 contracts the mould until the mould plates 4 are in close contact (Figure 13). This operation together with the pressure inside the container I pleats the container. In the meantime, the

ratchet bar 96 will have moved relatively to the detent 98. The operator then moves the handle I20 from position 11 to position I to cut of! the detent 88 is in engagement with the ratchet A-main air supply pipe I22 isduct side the container I, the air tube I4, the valve 82 5 and the cylinder I0, is thus relieved. The spring 85 moves the valves 82 and 88 forward to their original positions, but the piston I2 cannot return under the action 01 the springs I8 as the 1 bar 98. The operator then operates the chuck 66 by the shaft 89,'so that the jaws 85 move' apart radially and carry the plates 4 out with them. ,The. pleated container can then, be removed from the plunger 8 and another plain tubular container I be placed in position. The operator then pulls down the rod I04, the detent 98 releases the ratchet bar 96'and the piston I2 and crosshead 82 are returned to theiroriginal positions so that the mould is expanded that is, the mould plates 4 are again spaced as in Figurell.

I claim: I

1. An apparatus for forming a metal nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular ex-- trusion-container for fluid, semi-fluidand pasty substances, comprising a multi-plate expansiblev and contractible mould, the plates of said mould having. operative edges of sharply defined V shape, means for radially expanding and radially contracting said mould. means for introducing a fluid pressure medium into a metal tubular container placed in said mould while said mould is radially contracted, and means controlled by the said fluid introducing means to cause fluid under pressure to longitudinally contract said mold into flnal form.

2. An apparatus for forming a metal nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular exduct ,for the introduction of pressure medium into said container, and means for compelling said plunger to longitudinally contract said mold to compel said tubular container to conform to the V shaped edges of the mould plates and thereby to form V-shaped pleats in the container. I 3. An apparatus for forming a metal nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular extrusion-container tor fluid, semi-fluid and pasty substances, comprising a multi-plate expanslble and contractible mould, the plates-of said mould being composed of segments and. having operative edges of sharply defined V shape, a chuck for supporting said mould having radially ad'- justable ja'ws, each jaw carrying one set oregments of mould plates. means for adjusting said jaws radially to open and close the mould for the purpose of permitting the insertion andremoval of a tubular container, a plunger adapted to be inserted into the open end of 'a container w inserted in said mould, said plunger having a.

for introducing pressure medium to said- 78 Qtainer'and to the cylinder for operating the tubular container, and means for axially moving said plunger independently of .said duct to compel said mold to axially contract. while maintaining pressure in said container through the duct for the purpose of compelling said tubular container to conform to the V shaped edges of the mould for the purpose of forming V shaped pleats in said container.

4 An apparatus for forming a metal 'nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular e'xtrusion-cont'ainer for fluid,vsem-i-fiuid and pasty substances, comprising a multi-plate axially expansible and contractible mould, theplates of 1 said mould having sharply defined V-shap'ed operative edges and being composed of radially cooperating segments, a chuck ior supporting said mould having radially adjustable jaws, each carrying one set .of said segments, means for radially adjusting said jaws for the. purpose-of compressed air to said cylinder for moving said opening and radially closing the mould for the insertion and removal of a tubular container, a plunger 'for insertion in the open end of an in serted container and for contracting said mould, said plunger having a duct for compressed air [for introduction to said container when said mould is radially closed but expanded axially, a

piston connected to-said plunger, a cylinder for said piston, means-for'controlling the supply of compressed air to the duct in the plunger, for

the purposes ofsupplying air to the container, independent means for controlling the supply of plunger 'forwardsto contract the mould longitudinallyand for the purpose of compelling the container to conform to the V-shaped edges of the mould plates and receive outward pleats, and

. means for retracting saidplunger to expand said mould, the means for controlling the supply of compressed air to the duct in, the plunger automatically controlling the means for admitting compressed air to the cylinder for moving th plunger to contract the. mold.

5. An apparatus forforminga metal nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular extrusion-container for fluid, semi-fluid and pasty substances as specified in claim 2, comprising a cylinder and piston for moving the plunger for axially contracting the mould,- separate. air

valves for controlling the supply or'compres'sed 1 air to the duct in theplunger to charge the confvalve to. closed position. v

' DAVIS. a

piston to..force the plunger'forward, and means for causing the valve forcontrolling the duct 'to automatically control the opening of the valve for governing the plunger movement, the relation of the valves providing that the container is charged with compressed air before the valve controlling the plunger-movement is opened.

6. An apparatus for forming a metal nonresilient axially collapsible pleated tubular ext'rusion-container for fluid, semi-fluid and pasty trusion-container for. fluid, semi-fluid and pasty.

substances, comprising a longitudinally expansible and contractible-multi-plate mould composed of radiallyseparable segments having cooperating operativeedges of sharply defined V shape, a reciprocator'ycross'head for expanding and contracting said mould longitudinally, said the mould, said plunger having a duct for 'charg ing said'container with compressed air, a piston I and cylinder device operable by compressed air for moving saidcro'sshead forward to contract said mould, springs for moving said .crosshead backward for expanding said mould, means for retainingsaid crosshead in its forward position after contracting said mould and for releasing said crosshead when the mould is to be expanded,

under pressure through said duct, a normally closed control valve for governingthe' admission .of air under pressure'to the plunger, the normally closed control valvebeing automatically opened by the movement'of the normally open control crosshead having a plunger for insertion-in the open end of a tubular metal container placed in a normally open control valve for admitting air 

